Improvement in lubricating axles



W. W. BRYAN.

L ubr icat'ing Axles. No.157,576. r rateme dnwsman.

' Witnesses: Inventor:

cating Axles, of which the following is a specito secure to the axle the greatest possible UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

WILLIAM W. BRYAN, OF SOHAGHTIGOKE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LUBRICATING AXLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,576, dated December 8, 1874; application filed June 27. 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. BRYAN, of Schaghticoke, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubrification:

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a longitudinal section of the axle and box. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same in the line as a, Fig. 1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in lubricating axles; and consists in an oil-chamber, the discharge opening or openings of which are occupied by an agitatingpin, which is provided with a head or enlargement, so arranged as to retain the pin in the opening when the axle-box is removed.

The oil-chamber is made to extend only about two-thirds of the length of the axle,in order amount of strength, and the supply-opening of the oil-chamber is arranged in the front end of the axle for the purpose last above named, and to obviate the necessity of removing the axle-box in supplying the chamber with oil.

The agitating-pin is retained in openings bored through the axle, one of said openings being large enough to admit the head of said pin, so that when the axle-box of wheel is removed the pin is prevented from dropping out.

In the drawing, the letter A designates an axle, of the kind commonly used in carriages, wagons, &c. In this axle is a bore, B, which constitutes a chamber for oil or any other lubricating material, which is fed to the axlebox as hereinafter described.

It has been customary heretofore to extend the bore B entirely through the axle, whereby the latter, however, loses such strength that it has been found impracticable and unfit for use. I therefore terminate the said bore or oil-chamber about two-thirds of the length from the front end of the axle, whereby the oil is carried to such a portion thereof as will cause an even distribution, and at the same time the main strength of the axle is preserved, inasmuch as there is no bore at or near the rear end, which is subject to an im mense strain.

0 is the axle-box, which is provided with flanges, as shown, whereby it is keyed in the hub of the vehicle-wheel. The oil is discharged from the axle to the inner side of the said box 0 through one or more holes or sockets, I),

prevented from falling out, and is, therefore,

not liable to become lost or misplaced.

The agitating-pin is put in place in the discharge-opening through a hole, F, of a diameter equal to that of the pin-head E. This last-named hole F is formed opposite the discharge hole or opening in the axle, so that when the agitating-pin is dropped in through the hole F it will readily fall into place. When the agitating-pin has been put in place the opening F is plugged up, as shown.

The oil-chamber B is supplied with lubricating material through a hole or opening, G, which is closed up by means of a cap, H, in this example screwed upon the extreme end of the axle, but which may be screwed directly into the supply-opening. The said supply-openin g G is formed in the side of the axle, and at or near the front end, so that it is covered by the cap H; and in order to fill in oil or grease to the oil-chamber B, it is only necessary to remove the said cap.

By locating the supply-opening at the end of the axle, I preserve the strength which is lost when the openings are in the body of the axle, and, together with the effect of the construction of the oil-chamber, as herein described, an axle of great strength is obtained.

It is obvious that my invention is applicable to a rotating shaft or to a carriage-axle which is stationary. In the one case the rotary motion,and in the other the jar or travel, causes the agitating-pin to move back and forth in its socket, and by this means the oil is allowed to ooze or work its way out to the inner side of the box.

The axle-box and wheel need not to be re- 2. The apertures F and D, in combination moved in order to supply the axle with oil, with the agitating-pin D, provided with an and by this means I do away with a Vast enlargement, E, and the oil-chamber B subamount of labor, and dispense with the use of stantially as shown and described.

alljacks, 850. In testimony that I claim the foregoing 1 What I claim asnew, and desire to secure have hereunto set my hand and seal. by Letters Patent WILLIAM W. BRYAN. 14. 8.]

1. The agitating-pin D, provided with a head, E, in combination with the discharge Witnesses: opening D and the oil-chamber B, substan- HENRY I. DUNsBAoH, tially as described. J As. A. KNIGHT. 

